Supermarket recalls cheese due to presence of Listeria bacteria

Ben Green, Acting Head of Digital

A supermarket chain has recalled a number of its Camembert products due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Sainsbury’s has taken steps to recall products containing Camembert with ‘use by’ dates up to and including 6 March 2016 after detecting low levels of the bacteria in some of its products.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause foodborne illness, with pregnant women, young children, those with weakened immune systems and anyone over 60 years old particularly at risk.

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference French Camembert Cheese 250g, Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Baking Camembert Cheese 250g and Sainsbury’s Camembert Pays 250g have all been affected by the recall.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “Routine testing of our Taste the Difference Camembert has detected extremely low levels of listeria in a very small number of samples. Although the recall of this product is purely precautionary and the product is not presently unsafe, we are asking customers not to eat it and to return their purchase to their nearest Sainsbury’s for a full refund.

“As an extra precaution, we have also chosen to recall two other products made by the same supplier. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Customers are advised not to consume the product. Instead, affected products should be returned to a Sainsbury’s store for a full refund.